Odisha and several district imposed controversial bail conditions on Dalit and Adivasi villagers protesting a vedanta linked bauxite mining project in Rayagada district.
40 people were arrested.They were protesting against the environmental and livelihood damage caused by mining opertation.At least 8 protesters (mostly Dalits, some Adivasis) were told they must clean police station premises every morning (e.g., 6-9 AM for 2 months) as a condition for bail. One prominent case is 26-year-old Dalit protester , who had to travel 20 km daily to sweep and clean toilets in Kashipur Police Station after months in jail.
Activists call this deeply casteist,as sweeping,cleaning is traditionally associated with manual scavenging and Dalit labor in India's caste system. The orders came from judges mostly from dominant castes, amid a crackdown on land and environmental protests.It violates article 14 of our constitution.
The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance, strongly criticized the Odisha High Court and district courts for these "perverse," and "degrading" conditions. It declared them unconstitutional, null and void, and expressed deep disappointment in the judiciary imposing such caste-sensitive, humiliating terms.
This raises bigger questions about:
1)Judicial bias and sensitivity toward marginalized communities ?
Criminalization of peaceful protests against mining,displacement ?
Whether bail conditions are being used as additional punishment?
4)will the judges face any punishment for passing these orders?
- If judiciary is passing such orders,what can we expect from common people!